Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R46366/01
Title:	Juxtacrine signalling as a developmental pattern generating mechanism
Principal Investigator:	Owen, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	School of Mathematics
Organisation:	Loughborough University
Scheme:	Fast Stream
Starts:	01 October 2001	Ends:	31 May 2003	Value (£):	62,610
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Cells Development (Biosciences) Non-linear Systems Mathematics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Describe the proposed research in about 200 words. Juxtacrine signalling has been demonstrated to be a powerful new mechanism whereby discrete networks of cells can communicate and develop complex patterns such as those required for organismal development. This nearest neighbour signalling operates via the binding of proteins (ligands) displayed on a cell to receptors on adjacent cells, with binding being an intrinsically nonlinear process. Ligand and receptor numbers may not be evenly distributed on the surface of a cell, so the proposed research will develop a model which tracks their dynamics on individual segments of the cell membrane. The signalling and pattern formation properties of the model will be analysed using linear stability analysis, and nonlinear analysis of the patterns which we expect to find. A key component of this work will be to determine the dependence of pattern wavelengths on parameters, which represents a considerable mathematical challenge. Recent biological discoveries include evidence that juxtacrine ligands may also exist as diffusible molecules. Theoretical analysis of an extended model which includes extracellular diffusion of free ligand will be used to determine the extent to which each component contributes to effective signalling, including quantifying the expected increase of signal ranges and pattern wavelengths. Finally, numerical simulations will determine the effect of irregular two dimensional networks, in particular how robust patterns on regular arrays are to geometric perturbations. The proposed research will further our understanding of pattern formation in discrete nonlinear mathematical models, and of the developmental potential of juxtacrine signalling mechanisms.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.lboro.ac.uk